Warriors hold off Moose with strong first, third periods

WASILLA — Wasilla head coach Bill Sturdevant is starting to see a pattern with his team.

The Warriors play well in the first period and typically excel in the third.

But in the second?

That’s been a different story.

“Our goal is to be one of the top teams in the region. We have to play every period like we’re a top team,” Sturdevant said after Wasilla overcame a rough second period to post a 5-3 win over rival Palmer at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Friday. “If we start taking breaks, taking periods off, that could really come back to bite us in the rear end later on down the road.”

Wasilla scored a pair of goals during the final 3:31 of play to break a 3-3 tie and overcome Palmer’s three-goal second.

Wasilla junior Trent Wohlers scored with 3:31 left to break the tie and junior Zach Korsmo added an insurance goal.

“We didn’t come out ready to play in the second period and Palmer was,” Sturdevant said. “Palmer’s got a lot of pride. They’ve got some talented players and they took it to us in the second period.”

After Wasilla popped two pucks into the net during a one-minute span early in the first, Palmer posted a pair of scores during a 32-second span early in the second. All three of Palmer’s scores came during a two-minute span.

“We had a great second period,” Palmer head coach Brad Hanson said. “The kids worked hard and we got some bounces.”

Steven Acher scored the first of his two second-period goals at the 10:21 mark. Sophomore Ivan Good led the Moose on a 3-on-1 break and moved the puck across the zone to Acher, who slipped a shot by Wasilla goalie Chris Yaskus.

Palmer moved the puck back into their offensive zone and scored just 32 second later. The puck took a few bounces around the crease. Palmer sophomore Dalton Buness put pressure on the net and was credited for the score.

“We’re not going to outshoot many teams, so we’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities given to us,” Hanson said.

Soon after, Good and Acher connected again.

Good picked up the puck between the blue lines, skated up the left side of the ice and sent a shot across the zone to Acher, who was parked at the right side of the net.

Less than a minute later, Acher nearly hit the hat trick on a Good-Acher odd-man rush.

Wasilla built an early lead with three goals in the first period.

Early in regulation, sophomore defenseman Chancie Hanson skated up from the blue line and across the zone, and sent a quick wrist shot into the upper shelf of the Moose net.

Less than a minute later, Wasilla forward Tim Workman knocked in the rebound of a Dylan McCree shot to give the Warriors the 2-0 lead.

With just less than a minute left in the period, senior Jade Johnston sped past the Palmer defense and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Palmer goalie Jonas Naegele while the Warriors skated with the man-advantage.

“I thought we played very well in the first period,” Sturdevant said. “We executed our game plan the way we want to every time we step on the ice.”

With 3:31 left, Wohlers picked up a loose puck right in front of the Palmer goal and sent a quick shot into the net.

“Late in a third period like that, the game is going to be decided on a mistake,” Sturdevant said. “Fortunately, we were able to capitalize on the mistake.”

Despite the loss, Hanson said he is pleased with the progression of a young Palmer team that includes only three seniors.

“They’re growing up in a hurry,” Hanson said. “I’m really, really proud of the kids. They’re improving most every day. The kids’ attitudes are healthy, and they’re working hard.”

Both teams are now off for the winter break and will continue play in early January.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 5, Palmer 3

Friday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Wasilla- Hanson (unassisted) 10:52; 2. Wasilla- Workman (McCree) 10:00; 3. Wasilla- J. Johnston (M. Johnston, Wohlers) pp 0:59.

Second period — 4. Palmer- Acher (Good, Rissew) 10:21; 5. Palmer- Buness (unassisted) 9:49; 6. Palmer- Acher (Good) 8:15.

Third period — 7. Wasilla- Wohlers (unassistted) 3:31; 8. Wasilla- Korsmo (Wohlers) 0:58.

Shots on goal: Wasilla 14-13-6—33, Palmer 4-8-5—17; Saves: Wasilla- Yaskus 4-5-5—14, Palmer- Naegle 12-13-4—28; Power plays; Wasilla 1-for-3, Palmer 0-for-3.